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PAGE TWO THE NEWBERRY SUN THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1955 1218 Collegre Street NEWBERRY. S. C. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY O. F. Armfield, Jr., Owner Entered as second-class matter December 6, 1937 at the Postoffice at Newberry, South Carolina, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $2.00 per year in ad vance; six months, $1.25. COMMENTS ON MEN AND THINGS * Who killed cock robin? I don’t know, though I recall the song in which the sparrow, with his bow and arrow, claimed the credit, or admitted the blame. I’m not interested now in oock robin; I am wondering what happened to the farmers. Every week I look about for something to write about. Sometimes I spend an hour with my versatile and gracious banker friends, Messrs B. M. Edwards and John A. Camp bell. From them I draw inspiration and borrow material. I read many papers, journals, magazines, special articles, etc, in.search of good material. Sometimes I draw on my own experience or observation. I am interested in farming; and I know that something is out of order; and what is wrong is not entirely the fault of politicans, nor are they entirely capable of providing a remedy. All of us, together, are muddling along, but the trouble lies deep, so here is a study made by the Farm Jour nal, which is worthy of our attention: ‘The Real Fact About Farm Income. There are two ways to measure this—by the money you’re taking in, and by what your tsatement shows down at the bank. The figures on cur- / rent income show this: Farm parity prices have slipped 28 points since February, 1951—19 points under the Democrats; 9 under the Republi cans—and are the lowest since 1941 Production costs have jumped to 30 per cent above 1947— and farmers have had only a 1 per cent increase iri cash re ceipts to meet these bills. The drop in net farm income is almost entirely due to highercosts. Typical commercial farmers in 11 of 21 different farming regions of the country got less than 50 cents an hour for their own labor last year, after paying expenses and getting interest in their investment. SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS ON THE AIR * middleman latched on to $5.4 billion more (much of this going to pay higher wages.) You can say this about people’s food bill. Their money is buying more than food—it’s buying more processing,'ser vices, light, sanitation, refrigerating, variety, display, qual ity, speed of handling, transportation, and higher wages than ever before. Some of this helps sell more food—some of it doesn’t. Fortunately an increasing population—30 per cent larger than in the early Thirties—is eating better (16 per cent apiece); and it’s a much higher class diet. People ate an average of 129 pounds of red meat apiece dqring the de pression; this year it will hif 160 pounds—the highest in history except for 1908. * Its plain to see that farmers aren’t sharing equally in the bounding prosperity that has touched most other elements of the economy. Farm people had an average income per person of $907 last year; non-farm average income was $1,831. Fafm per capita income has risen 15 per cent since 1947, but non-farm average income has has gone up just twice as fast. How come most of the rest of the economy is racking up strong gains in wages, earnings, and profits While farming lags? Well here are four reasons: 1. People’s food capacity is limited, but they can consume as many cars, TV sets, furniture, jewelry, fur coats, and vacations as they can pay for. Farm income reached an all-time high in 1947; $16.8 mil lion net. But it has been declining every year since except for 1951. This year it will get down to around $11 billion. But there are 18 per cent fewer farm people than in 1947; so even with the drop in net farm income the average farm er had 15 per cent more money in his pocket last year than he had, in 1947. Of course, averages are often deceiving, and don’t tell you much about extremes. Like the fellow who stood with one foot in a bucket of ice, and the other in a bucket of hot ashes. ‘The average temperature was about right’ he said, ‘but I was in an awful lot of pain.’ Farm debt has mounted steadily since 1947. Mortgage deb" has almost doubled—from $4.9 billion in 1947 to $8.2 billion this year. Farm debts on other than land has almost tripled, spurting from $3.6 billion in 1947 to $9.8 billion this year. This makes a total farm debt of $18 billion. However, farmers own 36 per cent more (land, machin ery, livestock, and so on) than in 1947—$163 billion worth this year. They can more than match the $18 billion they owe with their liquid assets—$19 billion in cash, bank de posits, and bonds. These liquid assets are actually a half-bill ion higher than in 1947. About seven farmers out of ten have no mortgage debt. Farm land is selling at prices 25 per cent higher than in 1947-49. And about 70 per cent of the farms are bought by farmers—^virtually the same as ten years ago. In other words, town folks aren’t gobbling up farms. This increase prices i an indcation that farmers have confidence. But even though farmers’ national ‘balance sheef looks lid, two things are worth remembering: Most of this ‘solid foundation’ is tied up in land, livestock, and machinery—many farmers are having to borrow to scrape up enough money to meet today’s high operating » cosli^s Farmers expanded during the war for a big overseas and domestic market. Now they're having trouble slowing down. They’ve increased output 11 per cent since 1950; 34 per cent since 1940. But people are eating only 3 per cent more apiece than in 1950, and only 7 per cent more than in 1940. In the meantime, huge surpluses have accumulated. One of the most important reasons that we’ve over-pro duced is that we’ve lost a considerable part of our export market. We’ve lost it because: Foreigners are raising more of their own food, and we ve HELPED THEM DO IT, through foreign aid programs. Here’s what it has meant to farmers: Since 1951 the num ber of acres growing crops for export has dropped 45 per cent down from 55 million acres in 1951 to 30 million last year. Since 1951 the acreage used to grow feed for horses and mules has dropped from 18 million down to 12 million acres. These reduced exports and the drop in horses and mules have idled the market foi* 31 million acres of U. S. farm land. Another reason why farmers aren’t doing better is that the middleman is taking an increasingly bigger chunk of the food dollar. Farmers got $17.7 billion in 1950, and $18.7 billion in 1945 for food goods they sold. Middlemen got more than that for handling it; $21 billion in 1950; $26.4 billion last year. So while farmers collected a billion more, the WHAT PEOPLE ARE BUYING (1954 compared with 1949); 3 per cent more food; 15 per cent more cars; 19 per cent more new homes and 143 per cent more TV sets. People last year bought an average of only 3 per cent more food apiece than five years ago—but they registered 15 per cent more new cars; moved into 19 per cent more new houses; bought 143 per cent more TV sets. That’s why farm output in 1954 was only 8 per cent higher than in 1947-49, and we have tremendous surpluses, whereas industrial production is' 25 per cent higher than 1947-49. / ' 2. The demand for ‘gadget living’ has been bolstered by low down-payments, liberal terms, and increasing wages. In 'the past five years, people’s spendable income (after taxes) has gone up a fifth, but consumer credit has gained more than half. This is a tremendous boost to industrial pro duction. But when people get loaded with monthly and weekly payments they often are forced to economize on food. Hourly wages are up 30 per cent since 1950; transporta tion costs are 25 per cent higher than in 1947-49* Farmers can’t keep up. ♦ i 4. Business has passed the increased costs along. Prices are up 11- per cent since 1950. FARMERS CAN’T PASS ON THEIR COSTS. .These facts are the crux of the matter.” — - ‘ ^ • I observe with interest that Virginia is planning to re sort to private schools. It may be recalled that over the radio and in my Spectator letter I have urged that course for South Carolina time and again. The logic of it strikes one with irresistible force. All our preliminary work, leads inevitably to that course, but we continue to stumble along. Let’s confront the condition bravely, resourcefully and in telligently : that calls for repeal of all school taxes, all school laws and the enactment of legislation that will meet the need. Briefly here is what we need, constructively: An Act levying a State tax for promoting public instruc tion, the revenue to be used on the basis of enrollment, course of study, preparation and experience of teachers, (and administration) in private schools, white or colored. All this detail can be readily worked out. Suitable .provision must, be made for colleges. We gain nothing by weakness, meekness, vaccillation or procrastination. Since the governor has. qualities of lead ership this is his opportunity. This is Bible-reading month, isn’t it? Month after month the Great Book points the way of life. If you seek a call to strength, how is this: “I go the wjay of all the earth; be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man.” This was David’s last admonition to Solomon. If your heart turns in grateful remembrance of the mer cies enjoyed—let your mind feast on this: ”0 give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” If you feel lonely and a bit forsaken in the rush of this con- petitive era, “The Lord is my Shepherd . . .Yea, though I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me.” If it be guidance we seek; “I am the way, the truth and the life.” From the Italy ' News-Herald, taly, Texas—During the past two Areeks we have had occasion to be thrown into the company of m^n from foreign countries both of whom were able to speak Eng lish. Yet, we would not so much as have recognized their language had they spoken in their native tongue. This started us t® thinking and we were impressed with ac counts we have read of so many foreigners who can come to this country—and many others—and converse freely. We pride ourselves on being modem, up-and-coming, with the very latest of scientific gadgets and machines; we speak of our educational system aa being ap plied to all citizens and consider our people to be the best educated in the world. Few of us can speak more than one language, howev er, and even those who do study a foreign language In our schools seldom get sufficiently proficient in It to conduct a conversation. Amar Nandi of Calcutta, India apologized profusely last week for his accent, but we assured hi™ that we had no difficulty in un derstanding him and wished that we could be sure of doing one- half so well if we visited India. “You would have no trouble there,” he said, “because prac- ^Hally everyone speaks English.” If we are to properly hold ouy position as world leader, it seems to us that more attention should be paid to this language situation. Our people need to know more languages if they are to properly understand those with whom they are dealing. • • * From the Etowah News-Journal, Attala, Alabama: Everything car ries a price tag. You can’t get away from it. And what you get is worth just about what you are willing to pay. Low price is often the lure to the most expensive kind of economy. Do you want to be skilled in just one job—a small part of a trade or profession? You can do that, too, and it will not take nearly so much preparation. Do you want to be a handy man, a janitor, a stevedore, or a laborer? You can be—very easily. No training is required. The price of preparation is exactly nothing. The world is full of laborers with strong backs and untrained brains. The opportunities are few and the pay is at bottom of the wage scale. The difference between salaries paid the janitor and the chief engineer is great. The difference is what it costs the janitor to be a janitor. He was not willing to pay the price of being an engineer. The engineer 4id pay the price. T. KEARNS, 140 Old Winston Road, High Point, North Carolina, T • was with an ice cream company when one of the salesmen quit without notice. The regular relief man was relieving men on vacation. Having had previous experience, Mr. Kearns was called on to take the vacated route. This was during the rush season and the hours were long and the work hard. He taught the route to another man who stayed on It three weeks and quit. He had to pick up where that man left off. He began to worry, then to gripe and complain to other employees. From the long hours and worry he lost 22 pounds in eight weeks, and he was looking down hie nose. The boss heard about his fussing from the other em ployees, so when the summer was over and he was relieved of the route, the boss called him into the office, and if he had not left it as he did he would have quit If he did quit he would be a mouse and not a man. So he is still on the job. CARNEGIE 'T * wpcneuce wouia oe duplicated. But he assumed a different mental attitude and he enjoyed the work, found lJ i V^~ beCaUae h ® wasn,t wor nring. He sold more Ice cream and felt better, and Jie lost no weight When it was over one of the Wm and taw him he appreciated the job he had done, wid starting the first of the month there would be a raise krhls salary (he year before he did not get a raise. CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACKosa 1 Printer's S Embrace 8 By 10 Blowsun missile IS Employs 14 Lure 10 Confederate general 1? Dropsy 18 Lubricating liquid 15 Former Russian rulers 31 Directs S3 Decay 34 Entice 36 City of 38 Aided 33 Tree 34 Burmese viol (pi.) 36 Compass point 37 Maori: food 38 Plates made from matrices 41 of 43 Polish marshes 44 Japanese coin 45 ‘ 1^^ age (pL) 51 Ducks 03 Tree yield ing caucho 83 Badgerlike animal South Ameri can animal Palm leaf (var.) boon*. novel by_ Blackwell Parcel of 04 First name of Persian poet 08 Of Lake Erie 60 Walk 08 Prefix: down 00 Perch 70 A direction DOWN 1 Man’s nick name S Germinated grain material 3 Stale joke (colloq.) 4 Cover 8 Form of “to be” • Son of Noah (yar.) T ReligJ eligious songs 8 Troubles 0 Size of shot 11 Thing In law 13 Rips 14 Vessels 18 Assist SO Part of plant <PU flntal No. *71 34 Lingers 38 City of Germany 38 City of West Africa 37 For sale 38 Low sound, as of rustling 30 Tantalize 31 Compound ether 33 CoUege officials 35 To thrust hack 38 Kissing .40 Dexterity 46 Oil of roses 47 Female ruft 48 Higher BO Transaction* 53 City of Italy 84 Wing 56 Bright saying 57 Sweetsop 60 Gold in Spanish American countries 82 River (Sp.i 62 National Academy o, Science 64 A.»>- 'ttOI Answer te Fsssle Ne. 870 If you ponder about the spiritual depths and think they are beyond your reach, remember the man who sought help for his son. The Great Teacher said to him “If thou cans’t believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” The man cried out “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” That was not confusion but the cry of a soul seeking to wrench itself from the harsh everyday so-called practicali ties of routine living in order to be imbued and endued and regenerated until he could grasp with his feeble, finite mind the unfathomable riches of the Redeemer. Q—Are Senators elected on a basis of population? A—No. The constitution provides that each state shall have two United States senators. Nevada with a population of some 250,000 and New York state with more than 15 millions have equal representation. Q—Has a negro ever served in the United States Senate? A—Yes, two. Both were from Mississippi Senator Hiram R. Revels served from February 1870 to May 1871. and Senator Blanche Kelso Bruce from 1875 to 1881. ) Q—Who picked the sites for the White House and the Capitol Building? A—George Washington. Q—Was any President a bachelor? A—Yes. President James Buchanan never married. President Grom Cleveland was a bachelor at the time of his first election. During his. first term he married Frances Folsom, of Buffalo, the daughter of his law partner. Q—Did a Speaker of the House ever become President? A—Yes, James K. Polk of Tennessee, who was speaker from 1838 te 1839 became president in 1849 to 1849. Two speakers became vice- president—Schuyler Colfax and John Nance Gamer. Q—When was the first national political couveatlea to nominate a proa* . Meat? A—In 1832 at Baltimore. It was called by President Andrew Jackson. Nominations prior to that time were made by Congressional cau cuses. Jackson, who was unpopular in Congress, contended the people should choose delegates for nomination of presidential candi dates instead of the nomination being made by congressmen. Since 1832 all presidents have been nominated by convention. t> ACK during the 1870s the farm- ers of the nation, spearheaded by the National Grange in the so- called Granger Movement, re belled against extortionate railroad freight rates. They forced the es tablishment, state by state, of Com missions which could curb in trastate freight rates, .and the bat tle continued through the years culminating in the first national regulation of the railroads as a transportation monopoly setting up the Interstate Commerce Com mission in the National Transpor tation Act of 1920., It appears today that the farm ers of the nation through their na tional organizations may have to do battle all over again ,to pre vent the railroads from again boosting freight rates almost at will under the provision of a bill now before the Congress. This measure is S-1920 with an iden tical bill H.R. 6141 in the House. Operating under the philosophy that they are no longer a “mon opoly” in the transportation field and have competition from the Trucking Industry, the Airlines and the Inland Waterway Barge system, the railroads prevailed upon President Eisenhower in the Spring of 1954 to appoint a com mittee to survey tire transporta tion system of the country. This the President did, naming Secre tary of Commerce Sinclair Weeks as chairman of a Cabinet Commit tee on Transport Policy, with the Secretary of Defense, Charles Wilson, and Arthur Fleming, head of the Office of Defense Mobiliza tion, as principals. Other cabinet members, which joined the com mittee on specific problems af fecting their departments included George Humphrey, Secretary of the Treasury, Arthur Summer-field. Postmaster General, Ezra Benson, Secretary of Agriculture, and Row land R. Hughes, Director of the Budget. The committee set up a working staff recruited largely from railroad and business inter ests. There were no members of the staff from agriculture, from the trucking industry, from the airlines or from the Inland Wa terways Association. The farmers of the country are collectively probably the largest users of freight transportation in the nation, so would be most vitally affected — grain shippers, livestock raisers, orchardists, cit rus fruit producers, dairymen, vegetable growers, cotton raisers, poultry and egg producers and many others—face increased freight rates, or will be caught in the squeeze of freight rate wars, shbuld the legislation pass this next session of the Congress. The crux of the legislation is that it would take away from tbs ICC tbs power to “preserve the inherent advantages of all modes of transportation and to prevent unfair < and destructive competi tive practices,” and would sub stitute. “tha creation of a system of dynamic competition.” This would virtually give the railroads similar advantagas to fix rates they had prior to the passage of the 1920 act For. the proposed legislation would also take away from the ICC tha power to fix exact rates, limiting the regula tion to minimum and maximum rates, and would further remove; from the ICC its traditional role as a protector of the small freight user and ttye consuming public. eii (•) to repeat; (b). to fret; (cl te avert. ANSWERS . *teJU«X *S I ii««s«a *s si**s 1 This an' That Jack O'Conner, general of the Milwaukee it was In tk » of the Pert (Tex.) Sea Hawks of ACE BASKETEER . . . Tom Geia, former La Salle college haakethaB star and rated as one of the greateat players of all ttasa, tigaod contract te play wMk the Philadelphia Warriors fta the National BaakethaB League. v t # e la an la a te steal